Surgical clip applier

• US 5,725,538 A
• Filed: 09/13/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LeMaitre Vascular, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Toso, Kenneth E., Geiste, Robert, Maffei, Frank C., Bolanos, Henry, Alesi, Daniel E., Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/713,772
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/143, 606/151, 606/1, 606/205-208, 227/901, 227/19, 227/175.1-182, 29/243.56
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/083 Clips, e.g. resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/901 Surgical clip appliers

Abstract

A surgical clip applicator comprising a housing, a pair of handles pivotally connected to opposite sides of said housing, and a jaw blade assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The jaw blade assembly includes a pair of jaws for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween and a clip carrier for supplying a series of clips to said jaws. A channel assembly is slidably mounted in the housing and envelops said jaw blade assembly. A forming cam is connected between and to said handles and said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles together to move said jaws towards each other. A feed cam bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly in overlying relation to said clip carrier, said bar having a nose at its distal end. A pusher bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing clips along said clip carrier. A first spring member connected between said cam bar and said forming cam for sliding said cam bar in a proximal direction in response to closing of said handles together and further biasing said channel assembly in a proximal direction. Second spring member biasing said pusher bar in a distal direction to push a foremost clip in said clip carrier between said jaws in response to opening of said handles from each other. A clip retainer for preventing movement of said spring biased pusher bar is also provided.

Claims

1. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to said housing and actuable in a tweezer-like manner, each of said handles having a proximal and a distal end and being pivotally mounted to said housing at said proximal ends;

a pair of jaws extending from said housing for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween;

means extending from said housing for holding a series of clips;

a U-shaped channel assembly slidably mounted in said housing;

means connected to said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles to move said jaws towards each other;

a pusher bar slidably mounted for movement in a distal direction in said channel assembly for advancing said series of clips along said holding means;

first spring means connected between said handles for biasing said channel assembly in a proximal direction;

second spring means biasing said pusher bar in a distal direction to urge said series of clips in a distal direction to push a foremost clip from said series of clips to a position between said jaws; and

means for translating tension of said second spring means to said pusher bin.

2. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said jaws and said clip holding means are integral.

3. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said first spring means biases said handles into an opened position.

4. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 1 wherein said distal end of said pusher bar has a rounded distal end portion with a pair of prongs for engaging the proximal-most clip on said clip holding means.

5. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 1 further comprising rotation control means for effectuating independent rotation of said clip holding means;

said channel assembly and said pusher bar.

6. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotation control means further comprises a wedge for retaining said clip holding means, said channel assembly and said pusher bar within said rotation control means.

7. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 6 wherein said translating tension means is a rod which rotates in response to said rotation control means.

8. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 1 wherein said handles are pivotable about a distal end of said housing.

9. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 1, further comprising a spring guide cooperating with said second spring means for controlling advancement of said pusher bar.

10. A surgical clip applier comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to said housing and actuable in a tweezer-like manner, each of said handles having a proximal and a distal end and being pivotally mounted to said housing at said proximal ends;

a pair of jaws extending from said housing for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween;

means extending from said housing for housing a series of clips;

a U-shaped channel assembly slidably mounted in said housing;

means connected to said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles to move said jaws towards each other;

a pusher bar slidably mounted in said channel assembly for advancing said series of clips along said holding means;

first spring means connected between said handles for biasing said channel assembly in a proximal direction;

second spring means biasing said pusher bar in a distal direction to push a foremost clip from said clip holding means to a position between said jaws; and

means for translating tension of said second spring means to said pusher bar wherein said sliding means includes at least one cam slot for engaging with said handles to actuate said channel assembly.

11. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to said housing, each of said handles having a proximal and a distal end and being pivotally mounted to said housing at said proximal ends;

a pair of jaws extending from said housing for receiving and deforming a clip therebetween;

means extending from said housing for holding a series of clips;

a U-shaped channel assembly slidably mounted in said housing;

means connected to said channel assembly for sliding said channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of said handles to move said jaws towards each other;

a pusher bar slidably mounted for movement in a distal direction in said channel assembly for advancing said series of clips along said holding means;

first spring means connected between said handles for biasing said channel assembly in a proximal direction;

second spring means biasing said pusher bar in a distal direction to urge said series of clips in a distal direction to push a foremost clip from said series of clips to a position between said jaws; and

means operatively associated with said housing for rotating said jaws with respect to said housing.

12. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 11 wherein said jaws and said clip holding means are integral.

13. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 11 wherein said first spring means biases said handles into an opened position.

14. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 11 further comprising a wedge means for engaging said jaws, clip holding means and channel assembly within said rotating means.

15. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 11 wherein said sliding means includes at least one cam slot for engaging with said handles to actuate said channel assembly.

16. A surgical clip applier as defined in claim 11 wherein said handles are pivotable about a distal end of said housing.

17. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to the housing, each of the handles having a proximal and a distal end and being pivotally mounted to the housing at the proximal end;

a jaw blade assembly including a pair of jaws and a clip carrier, the jaw blade assembly extending from the housing and receiving and deforming a clip therebetween;

a U-shaped channel assembly slidably mounted in the housing;

a camming member connected to the channel assembly, the camming member sliding the channel assembly in a distal direction in response to closing of the handles to move the pair of jaws towards each other;

a pusher bar movable toward the jaws to urge the series of clips towards the jaws moving to advance the series of clips along the clip carrier;

a first spring connected between the handles, the first spring biasing the camming member and the channel assembly in a proximal direction; and

a second spring associated with the pusher bar, the second spring biasing the pusher bar in a distal direction to urge the series of clips in a distal direction along the clip carrier to push a foremost clip from the series of clips to a position between the jaws;

wherein the handles are operatively connected to the camming member, such that closing the handles drives the camming member and the channel assembly in a distal direction to close the jaws and crimp a clip positioned therebetween.

18. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing and an elongated body portion extending therefrom;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to the housing;

a pair of jaws having a clip receiving portion positioned distally of the elongated body portion, the jaws being relatively movable from an open position to a closed position;

a series of clips arranged in end-to-end relation, wherein in the open position, the jaws are configured to receive a clip from the series of clips and in the closed positions, the jaws deform the clip positioned therebetween;

a pusher bar movable toward the jaws to urge the series of clips towards the jaws; and

a biasing member cooperating with the pusher bar, the biasing member being positioned to continuously urge the pusher bar and the series of clips towards the jaws to position a distal-most clip from the series of clips between the jaws when the jaws are open and to maintain the distal-most clip in position between the jaws at least until the distal-most clip has been partially deformed.

19. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 18 further including a jaw blade extending from the distal end of the housing, the pair of jaws being positioned at the distal end of the jaw blade.

20. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 19, wherein the series of clips is supported on the jaw blade.

21. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 18 wherein each clip in the series of clips is positioned to continuously engage adjacent clips.

22. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 18 wherein each of the handles has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the handles being pivotably mounted to the housing such that the handles are actuable in a tweezer-like manner.

23. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 18, further comprising a channel assembly slidably mounted with respect to the housing and the pair of jaws and adapted for slidable movement into engagement with the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position to deform a clip positioned therebetween.

24. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 23 further comprising a forming cam operatively connected between the channel assembly and the pair of handles such that when the handles are pivoted toward the housing, the forming cam is moved distally to move the channel assembly distally.

25. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 24 wherein the forming cam includes at least one cam slot which interacts with a pin connected to the pair of handles to move the channel assembly distally.

26. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 24 further comprising a spring positioned to bias the handles outwardly to move the channel assembly and the forming cam in a proximal direction.

27. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 23 further comprising a window formed in the housing and a rotatable member having a throughbore;

positioned in the window, the channel assembly, pair of jaws, and pusher bar being secured within the throughbore to facilitate rotation thereof.

28. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 18 wherein the biasing member is positioned within the housing, and wherein the applicator further comprises a rod extending between the biasing member and the pusher bar to urge the pusher bar distally.

29. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 18 wherein the pusher bar is positioned proximal of the proximal-most clip from the series of clips and remains in this position as it urges the distal-most clip between the jaws.

30. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing and an elongated body portion extending therefrom;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to the housing, each of the handles having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotally mounted to the housing at their proximal ends, the handles being actuable in a tweezer-like manner;

a pair of jaws having a clip receiving portion positioned distally of the elongated body portion, the clip receiving portion being configured to receive a clip from a series of clips, the jaws being movable between an open position and a closed position to deform a clip positioned therebetween;

a pusher bar engaging a clip to urge the series of clips towards the pair of jaws; and

an actuating mechanism operably connected to the handles, the actuating mechanism being movable to move the jaws between the open and closed positions.

31. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 30 further comprising a biasing member positioned to urge the pusher bar and the series of clips towards the jaws to position the distal-most clip of the series of clips between the pair of jaws when the jaws are in the open position.

32. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 30 further comprising a channel assembly slidably positioned within the housing and being movable into engagement with the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position.

33. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 32 wherein the actuating mechanism includes a forming cam operatively connected between the channel assembly and the pair of handles, the forming cam being configured to move the channel assembly distally in response to inward pivoting of the handles.

34. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 33 wherein the forming cam includes at least one cam slot and is slidably positioned in the housing, the pair of handles having at least one pin positioned within the cam slot.

35. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 33 wherein the forming cam includes a pair of cam slots and each of the handles includes a pin positioned within a respective one of the cam slots.

36. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 32 further comprising a rotatable member rotatably connected to the housing and having a throughbore configured to support the channel assembly, the pair of jaws, and the pusher bar to facilitate rotation thereof.

37. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 36, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a non-rotatable link operatively connected to the channel assembly to permit rotation of the channel assembly, the link being slidable longitudinally to permit longitudinal movement of the channel assembly.

38. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing and an elongated body portion extending therefrom;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to the housing;

a pair of jaws having a clip receiving portion positioned distally of the elongated body portion, the jaws being relatively movable from an open position to a closed position;

a series of clips arranged in end-to-end relation, wherein the open position, the jaws are configured to receive a clip from the series of clips and in the closed position, the jaws deform the clip positioned therebetween;

a pusher bar mounted for movement only in the distal direction to urge the series of clips towards the jaws; and

a biasing member cooperating with the pusher bar, the biasing member being positioned to urge the pusher bar and the series of clips towards the jaws to position a distal-most clip from the series of clips between the jaws when the jaws are in the open position.

39. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 38 further comprising a channel assembly positioned within the housing and being movable into engagement with the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position.

40. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 39 further comprising a rotatable member having a throughbore supported on the housing, the channel assembly, the pair of jaws, and the pusher bar being secured within the throughbore to facilitate rotation thereof.

41. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to the housing;

a pair of jaws extending from a distal end of the housing, the jaws being relatively movable from an open position to a closed position;

a series of clips arranged in end-to-end relation, wherein in the open position, the jaws are configured to receive a clip from the series of clips and in the closed positions, the jaws deform the clip positioned therebetween;

a pusher bar movable toward the jaws to urge the series of clips towards the jaws;

a biasing member cooperating with the pusher bar, the biasing member bearing positioned to urge the pusher bar and the series of clips towards the jaws to position a distal-most clip from the series of clips between the jaws when the jaws are open and to maintain the distal-most clip in position between the jaws at least until the distal-most clip has been partially deformed; and

a channel assembly slidably mounted with respect to the housing and the pair of jaws and adapted for slidable movement into engagement with the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position to deform a clip positioned therebetween.

42. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 41, wherein each of the handles has a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the handles being pivotally mounted to the housing such that the handles are actuable in a tweezer-like manner.

43. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 41 further comprising a rotatable member supported on the housing, the pair of jaws being operably connected to the rotatable member to facilitate rotation of the pair of jaws.

44. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 41 wherein the pusher bar is positioned proximal of the proximal-most clip from the series of clips and remains in this position as it urges the distal-most clip from the series of clips between the jaws.

45. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotally connected to the housing;

a pair of jaws extending from a distal end of the housing, the jaws being relatively movable from an open position to a closed position;

a series of clips arranged in end-to-end relation, wherein in the open position, the jaws are configured to receive a clip from the series of clips and in the closed position, the jaws deform the clip positioned therebetween;

a pusher bar mounted for movement only in the distal direction to urge the series of clips towards the jaws;

a biasing member cooperating with the pusher bar, the biasing member being positioned to urge the pusher bar and the series of clips towards the jaws to position a distal-most clip from the series of clips between the jaws when the jaws are in the open position; and

a channel assembly positioned within the housing and being movable into engagement with the jaws to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position.

46. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 45 wherein each of the handles has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the handles being pivotably mounted to the housing such that the handles are actuable in a tweezer-like manner.

47. A surgical clip applicator as defined in claim 45 further comprising a rotatable member supported on the housing, the pair of jaws being operably connected to the rotatable member to facilitate rotation thereof.

48. A surgical clip applicator according to claim 45 wherein the pusher bar is positioned proximal of the proximal-most clip from the series of clips and remains in this position as it urges the distal-most clip from the series of clips between the jaws.